Derrick named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Chris Derrick (Portland, Ore.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the USA Cross Country Championships 12 km race in 35:36.6 on Saturday in St. Louis.

After multiple runner-up finishes at the NCAA championships, Derrick won his first national championship in his first year as a professional athlete. Derrick holds the American collegiate record in the 10,000m and was a 14-time NCAA Division I All-American while at Stanford. Derrick is now training under Jerry Schumacher in Portland.

Derrick with compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland on March 24.

“I'm excited to test myself against some of the best runners in the world,” Derrick said. “I expect to be a bit over my head and to have to really struggle through, which I hope will give me perspective and help me grow as an athlete.”

Now in its 12th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

DOUBLE THE DISTANCE, DOUBLE THE RECORDS FOR CAIN
Fresh off her smashing success in the 1500m/mile last week at the New Balance Games at the Armory, where she set prep indoor records in both events, New York high schooler Mary Cain ventured to Boston for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Feb. 2 and took down the World Junior record in the two mile at 9:38.68, and added an American Junior record in the 3000 with her 9:04.51 en route.

Galen Rupp's attempt on the AR in the 3000m fell just short, but the London Olympic 10,000m silver medalist did slice his PR to 7:33.67 to finish second.

Olympic pole vault champ Jenn Suhr jumped to the world lead with her 4.76m/15-7.25 clearance, and London bronze medalist Janay DeLoach branched out from the long jump to take the 60m hurdles in 7.97.

NEAR MISS AT 1,000m AR FOR ANDREWS
Two-time NCAA 800m champion Robby Andrews just missed the American Record in the 1000m at the Armory Collegiate Classic in New York, clocking 2:17.90 to end up .04 away from David Krummenacker's 2002 mark.

Kansas ace Andrea Geubelle, who was third in the Olympic Trials triple jump last summer, uncorked a big PR in the long jump with a 6.69m/21-11.5 leap, and Villanova moved to No. 6 on the all-time U.S. list with a 10:56.74 distance medley effort keyed by Emily Lipari's 4:34.6 anchor.

WHITING TAKES WORLD SHOT LEAD
Reigning World Indoor champion Ryan Whiting popped a world-leading 21.59m/70-10 in the shot put at the Penn State Sykes & Sabock Cup Feb. 2. He also had a 21.43m/70-3.75 in the second round, at the time a world leader.

FATHER TIME NO MATCH FOR LAGAT YET
American Record holder Bernard Lagat, who turned 38 in December, showed that he has lost none of his speed as he raced to a 7:34.71 to win the 3000m at Karlsruhe on Feb. 2.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR HJ'ER JONAS
2010 World Indoor HJ bronze medalist Dusty Jonas enjoyed the friendly confines of his alma mater to notch his highest jump since 2008, clearing 2.34m/7-8 at the Sevigne Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Wisconsin's Japheth Cato topped 6000 in the heptathlon for the second time, tallying 6024.

AL FOR DASH MAN RODGERS
Mike Rodgers, who won silver in the 60m at the 2010 World Indoor championships, ripped to a U.S.-leading 6.54 to finish third at Mondeville, France, on Feb. 2. Two days earlier at Linz, Austria, he won in 6.60.

MEN'S 600m LIST TAKING A BEATING
Last week, it was Duane Solomon and Cas Loxsom. This time, it was former Iowa star Erik Sowinski who zipped his way onto the all-time U.S. 600 list with a 1:15.99 at Moscow on Feb. 3. The NCAA 800m runner-up last year, Sowinski claimed the No. 5 A-T spot with his effort.